Who Are We?
The MotherBorn Collective CIC was born out of the deep desire to help parents, particularly mums, get the support they need during pregnancy and the postnatal period, but which is often sadly lacking in our modern maternity system.
The three founders are mums themselves and already actively support the community through regular support and play groups:
Steph - runs Nurslings, the infant feeding support group in Kingsbridge and has done so for the last 5 years. With around 14-16 mums and babies attending every week, Nurslings has grown hugely over the time that it has been running - a sure sign of the ongoing need for this type of support within our community.
Caroline & Pennie - both have run the hugely popular Pop-In & Play group at Kingsbridge Family Church for the last 8 years. Around 30 mums, dads, grandparents and childminders go along for a play and to socialise each week.
Caroline & Steph are also proud owners of Kingsbridge Community Champion 2024 status having been nominated by local families!
Between us we have been supporting expectant and new mums and dads in their early years of parenthood for over a decade, and it is painfully apparent to us that our local families are struggling to access the services that many often desperately need. We are going to change that!
We Need Your Help
We need your help to create a much-needed hub of support for expectant and new parents in Kingsbridge and the surrounding area.
In 2016, our community lost its beloved children's centre. At the time, we hoped families wouldn't have to travel to Totnes or further afield for essential support services. Unfortunately, this hope was short-lived, and now the majority of services are only accessible by travelling. This leaves many new and expectant mums and dads in Kingsbridge and nearby isolated and without the support they need.
OUR VISION
We aim to change the current state of things by establishing a dedicated hub in Kingsbridge that will provide:
Infant Feeding Support: Whether breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, or combination feeding, our trained volunteers will offer guidance and support tailored to each mother's needs. Steph is a Breastfeeding Counsellor & Mindful Breastfeeding Practitioner and therefore also able to offer 1:1 consultations to families in need of extra help with feeding their baby.
General Parenting Peer Support: Connect with other parents, share experiences, and find reassurance in a community of peers, ultimately building the village that every parent needs.
Equipment Hire: From breast pumps and TENS machines to other birth and baby-related equipment, we will offer affordable rentals to make parenting a bit easier.
Quality Second-Hand Maternity, Nursing & Baby Clothes: Access a range of gently-used clothing, helping mums and babies stay comfortable and confident without the high cost.
Library of Birth/Feeding/Parenting Books: We will build a well-stocked library that will provide valuable information and support for every stage of pregnancy and early parenthood.
Signposting to Relevant Services: We will guide and refer you to local services and resources that can offer further help and support.
Walk-In Safe Space: Once we have a base in Kingsbridge, mums, dads, grandparents and main carers will be welcome to walk in off the street during our open hours, feed and change their baby, get a cuppa, and chat in a supportive and non-judgmental environment for only a small donation.
Regular Mum Meet-Up Events and Educational Classes: Join us for regular meet-ups and classes designed to educate, empower, and connect new and expectant mums. We also intend to run sessions especially for dads, and for families as a whole too!
Local Mum-Led Business Products: We will support local mum-led businesses by offering a space to sell their products. This helps mothers in business while providing our community with unique, locally-sourced items.
Reusable Sanitary Items and Washable Nappies: Promote sustainability and save money with a range of reusable sanitary items and washable nappies.
Sling Support: Get help using baby slings to ensure comfort and safety for both mum and baby.
We envision a welcoming, inclusive space where every mum, dad and carer feels supported and valued.
But we can't do this alone....
Your Contribution Will Make a Difference: With your help, we can create this essential hub and ensure no parent in Kingsbridge, or our local area, feels alone or unsupported. Every donation, no matter how small, brings us one step closer to making this vision a reality.
There are all sorts of costs involved with the start-up and running of our organisation, including the recruitment and training of volunteers, DBS checks, insurance and various systems and overheads to name but a few, so your help will ensure that the work we're doing benefits every new parent within our community, both now and for many years to come.
Please join us in supporting the mums, dads and families of Kingsbridge and the surrounding area. Together, we can build a brighter, more supportive future for our community.
Donate Now and help us create a hub where every parent finds the support and community they need.
Thank you for your generosity and support.